Heathrow to Improve Business Travel Experience with Facial Recognition

Posted: Mon 5 November 2018 at 12:53

Business travellers and holidaymakers moving through Heathrow airport will soon be able to do so more quickly thanks to facial recognition technology.

The UK’s largest airport, which is a just a 15 minute journey from Windsor, is a hub for business travel. It is also a favourite among visitors coming to the UK for holidays from all over Europe, as well as from more far flung destinations.

Now, the airport has announced that it will be introducing new facial recognition technology that will help make moving through the airport faster and less stressful.

The new technology will first be deployed at at the check-in stage for passengers. The system will scan passengers’ faces to verify their identity. Then, at the security and boarding stages of a journey, the system will automatically verify their identity without  the need for passengers to show their boarding passes and passports again.

Simon Wilcox, programme manager for automation at Heathrow, stated that the airport wants to get to a point where passengers can move through the terminals without stopping. At the moment, even with the new technology, natural bottlenecks still occur at certain points.

Heathrow is the first airport to roll out the facial recognition technology following a successful trial over the summer of 2018. Wilcox said that, during the trials, passengers were actually rather confused about the lack of queues as they were so used to lining up and waiting around at airports.

Royal Wedding Exhibition Proves a Hit at Windsor Castle

Posted: Sat 3 November 2018 at 11:28

The wedding outfits worn by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex at their wedding back in May are now on show at Windsor Castle.

Millions of people around the world watched as the glamorous couple married on that beautifully sunny Saturday earlier in the year. Now, those of us that didn’t manage to catch a glimpse of Meghan and Harry in person can see their wedding outfits up close and personal at the Windsor Castle exhibition.

The ‘A Royal Wedding: the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’ exhibition will undoubtedly draw in crowds from all corners of the globe. Visitors will be welcomed through the Green Drawing Room in the Semi-State Apartments. They will then view the famous wedding dress and Household Cavalry uniform in the Grand Reception Room.

The outfits are shown alongside those worn by bridesmaid and pageboy Princess Charlotte and Prince George. Visitors will also be able to see the sketches drawn up in the design stages of the dress. Perhaps the most impressive part of the exhibit, however, is the Duchess’s five-metre-long veil, embroidered with fauna from the 53 countries of the Commonwealth.

Speaking to the Windsor Express, exhibition curator Caroline de Guitaut commented: “While the dress is very simple, very structured, very tailored, she wanted the veil to have a drama.”

“When we look at the final design, what creates the dress and what makes it so successful is the attention to detail,” she added.

Visiting England: UK ranked fifth most powerful tourism destination

Posted: Fri 26 October 2018 at 12:39

A new study has ranked the UK as the fifth most powerful nation for tourism and travel, showing that visiting England is still extremely popular.

The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) looked at a range of factors to rank countries for their tourism power. The factors included foreign visitor spend, domestic visitor spend, growth in tourism over recent years and total tourism contribution to GDP.

China came out on top, while the US, India and Mexico ranked in second, third and fourth place. However, the UK was ranked as more powerful than tourism heavyweights such as Australia, France and Spain.

The WTTC’s chief executive officer, Gloria Geuvara, explained:  “WTTC’s new report outlines power and performance rankings which showcase countries that have been most successful in growing their tourism sectors across the board.”

Tourism to the UK has benefited greatly from an influx of Chinese tourists who want to experience the charm of our historic, traditional towns and cities, such as London, Edinburgh, Windsor and Oxford. Historic sites such as Windsor Castle saw record numbers of tourists this year. Meanwhile, domestic tourism in the UK has soared this year thanks to the unseasonably warm summer and lack of rain.

Geuvara pointed out that 12 of the top 20 countries on the list were members of the G20. She added that this illustrates, “the importance of travel and tourism both to mature markets and the global economy.”

Windsor Celebrates Second Royal Wedding of the Year

Posted: Tue 23 October 2018 at 12:11

The Royal wedding of Windsor local Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank took place at Windsor Castle earlier in October, showing off the very best of our historic town once again.

Hundreds took to the gusty streets on Friday 12th October to wish the happy couple well. Visitors also perhaps hoped to catch a glimpse of the many celebrity guests attending.

Former supermodels Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell were in attendance. Pop icon Robbie Williams, Hollywood actor Demi Moore and model Cara Delevingne were all also invited. The sheer number of high profile guests lead some to suggest that this wedding was more star-studded than that of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle back in May.

St George’s Chapel, within the grounds of Windsor Castle, hosted the Royal wedding. The newly married couple set off on a carriage ride around the centre of Windsor shortly after emerging as man and wife.

Eugenie’s dress proudly showed off the scar on her back from the operation that corrected her scoliosis when she was 12. She topped off her beautiful gown with the Queen’s Greville Emerald Kokoshnik Tiara, which was made by Boucheron in 1919.

A formal reception at Windsor Castle hosted by the Queen followed the ceremony. There was then a less formal evening reception in Eugenie’s family home of York House within Windsor Great Park.

Ricky Tick Revival on the Cards at Windsor’s Old Court

Posted: Sat 20 October 2018 at 09:08

A night celebrating Windsor’s legendary R’n’B club, the Ricky Tick, is being held at the Old Court arts centre in November.

Anyone who has lived in Windsor since the 1960s will remember the club, which hosted live performances from some of the biggest names in music, including the Rolling Stones, Stevie Wonder, the Supremes, the Temptations, Pink Floyd and Jimi Hendrix.

Now, in an attempt to revive the Ricky Tick many decades after its closure, the Old Court is hosting the club night once again. In the live room, grandson of Rolling Stone Brian Jones, Joolz Jones, will be playing alongside folk legend Donovan and Kim Wilde’s sister Roxanne Wilde. In the DJ room in the basement, Chelsea Singh will be headlining the decks, with other VIP DJs appearing throughout the night.

The Ricky Tick Revival is taking place from 2pm on Saturday 10 November and tickets can be purchased in advance from the Old Court for £20. Profits from the night will go towards setting up a fund for emerging artists in the area.

The night is being hailed as a relaunch for the club night and the Ricky Tick may well become regular fixture for Windsor nightlife lovers once more!

Programmes Like The Crown Help To Attract Visitors to the UK

Posted: Thu 18 October 2018 at 12:17

Tourism to the UK is being boosted by the success of British productions like The Crown and Paddington.

The international success of some British programmes are helping to attract overseas visitors to the UK, who are keen to soak up some of the country’s iconic history and landscapes. The Crown, an award-winning Netflix show about the British Royal Family, is a phenomenal success and has added to the appeal of visiting Windsor Castle, Buckingham Palace and other Royal residences.

Paddington and Paddington 2 have also been box office smashes and have led to an increase in visitors to London, all of whom are keen to experience first hand the idyllic London streets it portrays.

Margot James, the Minister for the Creative Industries, said:  “The UK is a creative powerhouse for producing many award-winning films, shows and video games enjoyed by millions globally.” As a result of this more tourists arrive in the UK, spending some £266.2 million a year, according to the British Film Institute.

Meanwhile, VisitBritain has reported this week that UK inbound tourism targets for 2020 have already been met in 2018 – two years early. A record 40.9 million overseas visitors have come to the UK so far this year.

Tourism Minister Michael Ellis said that Brexit does present a challenge but: “we are absolutely committed to helping the industry continue to grow, promoting the country as a must-visit destination and ensuring that local communities benefit.”

Spooky Halloween Goings-on in and Around Windsor

Posted: Mon 15 October 2018 at 08:58

Love it or hate it, Halloween in Windsor is upon us again and there’s plenty of events all around the area to help anyone staying in one of our apartments to celebrate the spooky season – and it’s not all just for the kids!

The best of the kids’ events

This year, Halloween coincides happily with half term, which means little nippers can fully immerse themselves in all things ghoulish for an entire week! Here’s a couple of the highlights from a long list of kids’ Halloween activities happening in the area over half term.

Get back to nature with Cliveden Bat’s Lair Halloween Trail

Cliveden National Trust property is a favourite ‘haunt’ for Windsor families and nature lovers. This year, to mark Halloween, the folks at Cliveden are hosting a children’s nature trail called the Bat’s Lair. Kids are encouraged to wear fancy dress and complete the trail and series of challenges within an allotted time.

The idea is to learn about the gardens and the wildlife at Cliveden, which is home to an astonishing ten types of bat. The trail costs just £3 per child on top of the usual entry price and there are different levels of difficulty to suit little ones from ages 2 to 13.

Legoland’s Brick or Treat event

Halloween in Windsor wouldn’t be the same without a visit to Legoland. From 18th October to 2nd November Legoland will be celebrating Halloween with some spooky events – topped off with fantastic firework displays, held on 20th, 21st, 26th, 27th October, and 2nd November.

The park will be hosting its Brick or Treat trail, which encourages youngsters to find missing potion ingredients and try to win a treat. There will also be a kids’ disco at the miniland stage between 10am and 5pm daily, where children can dance with Frankie, Legoland’s resident Frankenstein monster. There’s also a spooky Hill Train ride to the Enchanted Forest, a costume competitions and the chance for little ones to build their own lego pumpkin for an enormous pumpkin patch display.

And for the big kids…

How about a touch of Halloween luxury?

Halloween in Windsor isn’t all about trick or treating and pumpkin carving!Adults can enjoy a luxurious Halloween experience at the beautiful Oakley Court hotel between 26th and 31st October in the form of a Halloween Afternoon Tea complete with themed food and drinks and a glass of Champagne for £41.50 per person. There’s also a children’s version for just £17.50.

Or Halloween at the racecourse?

Windsor Racecourse host some really fantastic events throughout the year, but their Halloween event, complete with drive-through cinema, firework display, fairground, light show, Ghostbusters themed attractions and Halloween-themed food and drinks is going to be one of the highlights of 2018. Family ticket packages start at just £43 for a family of four and include food and drinks vouchers.

Becoming a Happy Business Traveller

Posted: Fri 12 October 2018 at 12:34

How to get the most from your business trip

Some people simply love business travel and do it all the time. They might enjoy the glamour of the airport lounge or the anonymity and isolation of a chain hotel. Others might simply have mastered the art of unwinding at the end of the day and actually finding some leisure time for themselves. For the rest of us who struggle a bit more with enjoying business travel, here’s some hints and tips for making the whole experience less mundane and even a bit more like fun…

Make the actual travelling part as painless as possible

“What’s more of a sweetener for a business trip overseas than a free flight to Paris when you return?!”

This might seem easy, but here’s how it’s actually done:

  • Pack light – there’s really nothing worse than dragging around a heaving holdall full of clothes and shoes you won’t get the chance to wear.
  • Use a roller suitcase and avoid checking luggage into the hold – having to wait for your baggage at your destination can be a major headache-inducer. Be one of those smug people who just rolls right off the plane and into a cab.
  • Prep your documents and devices in advance – making sure you have easy access to your passport, boarding pass, hotel confirmation, transfer details and cash is all part of making international travel less likely to leave you tearing your hair out.
  • Take all the perks you can get – providing your employer can afford it, say yes, yes, yes to business class flights, lounges, private transfers and executive accommodation. If you can travel well you will do a better job once at your destination.
  • Ensure you are fully-charged – making sure your devices are all charged overnight before you travel will save you from the nightmare of a flat battery when you most need to make that call or check that email.
  • Try to stay loyal to just a couple of airlines – this means you will benefit personally from the airmiles and other loyalty benefits that stack up when you book flights for work trips. What’s more of a sweetener for a business trip overseas than a free flight to Paris when you return?!

Opt for an apartment over a hotel

More and more of us are realising that staying in self-catering accommodation offers far more space, comfort and opportunity to feel at home than hotels. If you’re a fan of self-catering options for your holiday accommodation, why not choose an executive apartment for your next business trip?

Staying in a business hotel often means perching on the end of your bed eating cold food at the end of your working day. Instead, you could be stretched out on your own sofa, eating a home-cooked meal and drinking a cold bear from your own fridge. There’s a lot to said for having a separate bedroom and living space, a dishwasher, a music system, a washer and dryer and even space to entertain. And if your business trip involves a long-term stay, a serviced apartment is a total no-brainer.

 

“If you’re lucky enough to be travelling on business with colleagues, why not organise some evenings out to help improve everyone’s mood.”

 

Minimise travel by city-hopping

If you are likely to need to travel to the UK for work to visit several cities, why not fit them all into one trip? For example, in the UK, it’s easy to stay in Manchester and attend meetings in Liverpool or even Birmingham. In the south consider staying somewhere centrally located like Windsor, which will allow you to hop from London, to Bristol or Reading for example, within a manageable train ride.

Try to do something unrelated to work

You’ve probably heard the term ‘bleisure’. It relates to the idea of fitting in leisure time around business when travelling for work. We appreciate that this isn’t always easy, but most of us will find the time for at least one non-work activity during a business trip.

Think about what will make you feel happiest and most fulfilled. For some, visiting cultural or historic sites might be the obvious option, while others may simply want to hit the shops or take a relaxing swim. Whatever your particular leisure itch, try to scratch it and you’ll feel a million times better about being away from home.

Socialise

If you’re lucky enough to be travelling on business with colleagues, why not organise some evenings out to help improve everyone’s mood. Staying away from your friends and family for a prolonged period of time can be tough and any opportunity to socialise with colleagues should be taken. Anything to avoid dining alone in a hotel restaurant right?

Evening meals out can be a great opportunity to try local cuisine or even visit interesting areas. If you are working with local colleagues, ask them to show you the sites in the evening or to take you out to a typical nightspot. To say thanks, you can always invite them over to your apartment for dinner or drinks

Do some research

This is a really important tip as researching your destination before you get there will help you to be effective professionally and  it will also help you get the most from your business trip.

 

Key things to find out about your business trip destination before you travel:

  • What are the timekeeping conventions? Do people keep strictly to schedules or are you visiting a laid-back country where things often start late?
  • When do the locals eat?  If locals don’t eat dinner eat until late or eat very light in the mornings, for example, try to adjust.
  • Are there any political/cultural events happening while you are there? It is, afterall, always good to show you are aware of current affairs.
  • Is it safe? It’s wise to check whether the country you are visiting has any general safety issues you should be aware of. Is it safe to walk around at night or get taxies, for example?

Whether you’re a seasoned business traveller or a novice, there’s always room for improvement in how you approach your work trips. Providing you plan your journey, do a little research, have your own space and are open to socialising and ‘bleisure’ opportunities, there’s really no reason why you shouldn’t start looking forward to your next business trip.

Windsor Link Railways Heathrow Plans Boost Tourism and Reduce Traffic

Posted: Mon 24 September 2018 at 09:30

Those staying in Windsor accommodation who want to travel to and from Heathrow easily and quickly will welcome news that a local rail firm wants to help them do just that.  

Windsor Link Railway (WLR) hopes to become a Heathrow innovation partner and has submitted several ideas to the airport that could greatly benefit those visiting Windsor.

More than 35 firms have been shortlisted by Heathrow to become partners in helping to deliver the third runway at the airport. WLR hopes that its interesting ideas might be selected as part of the project.

The innovations include operating driverless, automated vehicles that travel in pods on part of the current Southern rail line, which could be purchased from Network Rail. Other ideas include extending park and ride facilities in Windsor or Slough to help people get to and from the airport, and dedicated check-in facilities in Windsor for those flying in and out of Heathrow but staying in Windsor.

The plans put forward by WLR are all intended to help Heathrow deal with some of the challenges arising from opening a third runway, such as traffic and air pollution concerns.

The early check-in and park and ride ideas are intended to allow tourists to check in early and then visit Windsor as part of their day, increasing tourism in Windsor, but reducing traffic to and from both Windsor and Heathrow.